Performance monitoring based beam management

Abstract

This application relates to performance monitoring of beams at a UE 110. A network device 120 transmits 212 to the UE an indication indicating whether a specific beam set (referred to as Set A beams) or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for performance monitoring measurements. The indication may be transmitted as an RRC message or as downlink control information (DCI). If the indication indicates that a subset of beams are to be used the UE determines 216 the subset of Set A beams to be used and the corresponding reference signals. The determination may involve using a pre-defined rule or condition, such as using a quasi-co-located (QCL) source reference signal. The UE then receives 220 the reference signals 220 from the network device and performs measurements 22 on the reference signals for performance monitoring. In a preferred embodiment (not claimed in claim 1) steps 202-210 relate to AI / ML beam predication at the UE. In this case, the UE may determine the subset of Set A beams to be based on the top-k CSI-RS.

Description

FIELDS

[0001] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for performance monitoring based beam management (BM). BACKGROUND

[0002] Due to the great success of artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) technologies, the AI / ML study item, which may refer to UE-sided model and network (NW) sided model, has been discussed in 3GPP. SUMMARY

[0003] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring; in accordance with a determination, based on the indication, that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, determine one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored; receive the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus; and perform a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

[0004] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to the first apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring; transmit, to the first apparatus, one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

[0005] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, from a second apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring; in accordance with a determination, based on the indication, that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, determining one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored; receiving the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus; and performing a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

[0006] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring; transmitting, to the first apparatus, one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

[0007] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring; means for in accordance with a determination, based on the indication, that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, determining one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored; means for receiving the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus; and means for performing a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

[0008] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring; means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

[0009] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0010] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0011] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling chart illustrating an example of process according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a signaling chart illustrating an example of process according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG.5 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0022] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0023] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0024] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0025] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0026] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0027] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used 5 herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, 10 components and / or combinations thereof.

[0028] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0029] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term 15 circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0030] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0031] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0032] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0033] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0034] AI / ML based beam management is agreed to be the topic, which may refer to spatial domain beam prediction (i.e., BM-Casel) and time domain beam prediction (i.e., BM-Case2). The scope of the spatial domain beam prediction (BM-Casel) is to predict the best Tx / Rx beams in different spatial locations. The time domain beam prediction (BM-Case2) aims to predict the most likely beam to use for next time instants, e.g., beam prediction in the spatial domain (BM-Casel).

[0035] The work item on AI / ML for NR Air Interface is approved, based on the AI / ML techniques to NR air interface which has been studied in FSNRAlMLAir. The present 5 disclosure focuses on the enhancements related to AI / ML for beam management, and the related objectives are as follows: Table 1 - Provide specification support for the following aspects: AI / ML general framework for one-sided AI / ML models within the realm of what has been studied in the FS^NR^AIML^Air project: o Signalling and protocol aspects of Life Cycle Management (LCM) enabling functionality and model (if justified) selection, activation, deactivation, switching, fallback ■ Identification related signalling is part of the above objective o Necessary signalling / mechanism(s) for LCM to facilitate model training, inference, performance monitoring, data collection (except for the purpose of CN / OAM / OTT collection of UE-sided model training data) for both UE-sided and NW-sided models o Signalling mechanism of applicable functionalities / models - Beam management - DL Tx beam prediction for both UE-sided model and NW-sided model, encompassing: o Spatial-domain DL Tx beam prediction for Set A of beams based on measurement results of Set B of beams (“BM-Casel”) o Temporal DL Tx beam prediction for Set A of beams based on the historic measurement results of Set B of beams (“BM-Case2”) o Specify necessary signalling / mechanism(s) to facilitate LCM operations specific to the Beam Management use cases, if any o Enabling method(s) to ensure consistency between training and inference regarding NW-side additional conditions (if identified) for inference at UE NOTE: Strive for common framework design to support both BM-Casel and BM- Case2 Study objectives with corresponding checkpoints in RAN#105 (Sept ’24): - Necessity and details of model Identification concept and procedure in the context of LCM CN / OAM / OTT collection of UE-sided model training data: o For the FS NR AlML Air study use cases, identify the corresponding contents of UE data collection o Analyse the UE data collection mechanisms identified during the IN NR A (TR 38.843 section 7.2.1.3.2) study along with the implications and limitations of each of the methods - Model transfer / delivery: o Determine whether there is a need to consider standardised solutions for transferring / delivering AI / ML model(s) considering at least the solutions identified during the FSNRAIMLAir study NOTE: offline training is assumed for the purpose of this project. NOTE: the outcome of the study objectives should be captured in TR 38.843 for future reference. NOTE: Coordination with SA / SA WGs of the ongoing study / work as it may relate to their required work. o not hide model design information from other vendors when shared.

[0036] During the study of the work item, a list of terminologies used for AI / ML has been agreed, which includes: AI / ML Model: A data driven algorithm that applies AI / ML techniques to generate a set of outputs based on a set of inputs. AI / ML model delivery: A generic term referring to delivery of an AI / ML model from one entity to another entity in any manner. Note: An entity could mean a network node / function (e.g., gNB, LMF, etc.), UE, proprietary server, etc. AI / ML model Inference: A process of using a trained AI / ML model to produce a set of outputs based on a set of inputs. AI / ML model testing: A subprocess of training, to evaluate the performance of a final AI / ML model using a dataset different from one used for model training and validation. Differently from AI / ML model validation, testing does not assume subsequent tuning of the model. AI / ML model training: A process to train an AI / ML Model [by learning the input / output relationship] in a data driven manner and obtain the trained AI / ML Model for inference. Model monitoring: A procedure that monitors the inference performance of the AI / ML model. Model parameter update: Process of updating the model parameters of a model. Network-side (AI / ML) model: An AI / ML Model whose inference is performed entirely at the network. Two-sided (AI / ML) model: A paired AI / ML Model(s) over which joint inference is performed, where joint inference comprises AI / ML Inference whose inference is performed jointly across the UE and the network, i.e, the first part of inference is firstly performed by UE and then the remaining part is performed by gNB, or vice versa. UE-side (AI / ML) model: An AI / ML Model whose inference is performed entirely at the 5 UE.

[0037] Current study on AI / ML for NR Air Interface includes a use case for AI / ML enhancements related to beam management, two sub-use cases have been identified in RANI: beam prediction in the spatial domain (i.e., BM-Casel) and beam prediction in the time domain (i.e., BM-Case2). The primary motivation is to support a reduced overhead 10 and lower beam measurements and reporting latency.

[0038] There were many agreements related to AI / ML BM for performance monitoring in which the present disclosure provides the solutions for measurements reporting and performance monitoring for both UE-sided and NW-sided monitoring. Table 2 Agreement For BM-Casel and BM-Case2 with a UE-side AI / ML model, regarding performance monitoring, study potential spec impact(s) from the following aspects in addition to those included in previous agreements: • Configuration / Signalling from gNB to UE for measurement and / or reporting • UE calculates performance metric(s), either reports it to NW or reports an event to NW based on the performance metric(s) • FFS: definition of an event and the performance metric(s) used to identify it . Indication from NW for UE to do LCM operations Agreement Regarding the performance metric(s) of AI / ML model monitoring for BM-Casel and BM-Case2, study the following alternatives (including feasibility / necessity) with potential downselection: • Alt.l: Beam prediction accuracy related KPIs, e.g., Top-K / 1 beam prediction accuracy • Alt.2: Link quality related KPIs, e.g., throughput, Ll-RSRP, Ll- SINR, hypothetical BLER • Alt.3: Performance metric based on input / output data distribution of AI / ML • Alt.4: The Ll-RSRP difference evaluated by comparing measured RSRP and predicted RSRP • Other alternatives are not precluded • Note: At least the performance and spec impact should be considered Agreement In order to facilitate the AI / ML model inference, study the following aspects as a starting point: • Enhanced or new configured ons / UE reporting / UE measurement, e.g., Enhanced or new beam measurement and / or beam reporting • Enhanced or new signaling for measurement configuration / triggering • Signaling of assistance information (if applicable) • Other aspect(s) is not precluded Agreement For BM-Casel and BM-Case2 with a UE-side AI / ML model, regarding UE-side performance monitoring, study the following aspects as a starting point including the study of necessity: • Indication / request / report from UE to gNB for performance monitoring • Note: The indication / request / report / may be no needed in some case(s) • Configuration / Signaling from gNB to UE for performance monitoring • Other aspect(s) is not precluded

[0039] The details of measurement and reporting framework for performance monitoring (beam measurements, reporting, &RS resource indication) for BM-Casel are discussed in the present disclosure.

[0040] In the study of AI / ML BM, the beam measurements are used as input to ML 5 model, and they are called as Set B beams and however, in a further AI / ML based beam prediction, the measured beams, e.g., Set B beams can be provided with the CSI reporting configurations.

[0041] When the UE performs beam prediction, it is understood that the NW shall do the performance monitoring such that it can configure the UE to switch to other 10 functionality / model or configure the UE to switch back to legacy. In such cases, the NW may configure the UE to derive performance monitoring metrics that represent ML model performance and ask UE to report monitoring metrics or monitoring outcome time to time (aperiodic or long periodic) and then NW makes decision. When the NW performs the beam prediction, the NW needs measurement reporting, for both model inference and 15 performance monitoring purposes.

[0042] For the performance monitoring framework of BM-Casel with NW-sided model, also focusing the NW-sided performance monitoring case that relies on partial set A measurements, the following issues can be identified. It is not fully clear what is the measurement and reporting framework when the NW relies on UE to report a sub-set of RS resources from Set A. It is not clear how to define the sub-set of RS resources from Set A to the UE or how the UE can assume the sub-set of RS resources from Set A as the monitoring RS resources.

[0043] For the performance monitoring framework of BM-Casel with UE-sided model, and NW-sided performance monitoring, when the performance monitoring relies on partial set A measurements, the following issues can be identified. It is not clear what is the measurement and reporting framework when the NW relies on UE to report the prediction output and to report the subset of RS resources from Set A. It is not clear how to define the prediction RS resources and sub-set of RS resources from Set A as the monitoring RS resources.

[0044] For the performance monitoring framework of BM-Casel with UE-sided model, and UE-sided performance monitoring, when the performance monitoring relies on partial set A measurements, the following issues can be identified. It is not clear what is the reporting framework when performance monitoring is at UE side. The NW would rely on performance monitoring reporting from UE side. It is not clear how to define the sub-set of RS resources from Set A as the monitoring RS resources.

[0045] Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a mechanism for performance monitoring based. In this solution, the NW transmits to the UE, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring. Based on the indication, if the UE determines that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, the UE may determine one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored. The NW then transmits the one or more reference signals to the UE and the UE may perform a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

[0046] The present disclosure focuses on the method of measurements reporting for performance monitoring at NW-sided while the prediction is performed at UE-sided. The methods of overhead reduction for measurements reporting and defining monitoring RS are mainly focused for BM-Casel in the present disclosure.

[0047] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows an example communication network 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication network 100 may include a first apparatus 110. Hereinafter the first apparatus 110 may also be referred to as a UE or a terminal device.

[0049] The communication network 100 may further include a second apparatus 120. Hereinafter the second apparatus 120 may also be referred to as a gNB or a network device. The first apparatus 110 may communicate with the second apparatus 120.

[0050] It is to be understood that the number of network devices and terminal devices shown in FIG. 1 is given for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitations. The communication network 100 may include any suitable number of network devices and terminal devices.

[0051] In some example embodiments, links from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 may be referred to as a downlink (DL), while links from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120 may be referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the second apparatus 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the first apparatus 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or receiver). In UL, the first apparatus 110 is a TX device (or transmitter) and the second apparatus 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0052] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), includes, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 5G, the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, includes but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), FDD, TDD, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0053] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows a signaling chart 200 for communication according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2, the signaling chart 200 involves the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120. For the purpose of discussion, reference is made to FIG. 1 to describe the signaling chart 200.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the second apparatus 120 may configure (204) the first apparatus 110 to perform beam prediction. For example, the second apparatus 120 may transmit (202) CSI-RS or SSB resources to the first apparatus 110. The first apparatus 110 then may perform (206) a beam prediction and report (208) predicted Top-K beam ID(s) or Top-K predicted RSRP through CSI report to the second apparatus 120. Then the second apparatus 120 may transmit (210) active TCI states for DL / UL channels to the first apparatus 110.

[0055] the second apparatus 120 may transmit (212), to the first apparatus 110, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring. The specific beam set used herein may be referred to as the Set A beams.

[0056] For example, this indication may be transmitted from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 via physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) / physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) based RRC message. As another example, this indication may be transmitted from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 via PDCCH / PDSCH based medium access control-control element (MAC CE) / downlink control information (DCI).

[0057] For the case of where the indication indicating a full set of Set A beams is to be used for a performance monitoring, the second apparatus 120 may use a configured Set A beams through radio resource control, RRC, message and the monitoring RS resources of Set A may cover both inactivate TCI states and active TCI states.

[0058] In this case, the first apparatus 110 may implicitly update the reporting configuration accordingly by including the report corresponding to the new added TCI state and removing report corresponding to the old TCI from the configuration.

[0059] In some embodiments, the subset of Set A beams may be determined based on the reporting instance wherein each RS from NZP-CSI-RS resources (CSI-RS reporting) is reported at least once over set of reporting instances. E.g. on each reporting instance, the UE may report N measured RS, where in each reporting instance N RS are reported (until all are reported).

[0060] For the case of where the indication indicating a subset of Set A beams is to be used for a performance monitoring, the first apparatus 110 determines (216) the subset of Set A beams is to be used for the performance monitoring.

[0061] For example, the first apparatus 110 may determine (218) one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of Set A beams based on at least one pre-defined rule or condition.

[0062] For example, the at least one pre-defined rule or condition may indicate the first apparatus 110 to select the one or more reference signals based on at least one quasi-colocated (QCL) source reference signal included in one or more activated or indicated transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states from a measurement reference signal resource set.

[0063] The mechanism to leverage QCL-D information for predefined rules from first indication may be as follows. In the first step, when the first apparatus 110 receives RRC configurations that consist of CSI-MeasureConfig and CSI-ReportConfig, one of the CSL Report-Config woule be, e.g., CSI-ReportConfigX for AI / ML beam prediction where the SSB beam measurements or CSI-RS beam measurements are used for input to AI / ML model. The CSLReportC^ would consist of the measurement RS resource with the list of CSI indexes in CSI-RS-ResourceSet. The first apparatus 110 may determine a list of RS resources based on nzp-CSI-RS-ResourceToAddModList in CSI-MeasureConfig. The first apparatus 110 may check the NZP-CSI-RS-ResourcelD in the set of RS resources. Then, first apparatus 110 may determine whether the QCL-D (QCL source RS included in the activated / indicated TCI states) associate NZP-CSI-RS resources within CSI-MeasureConfig. If the QCL source RS is within the measured RS set (NZP-CSI-RS Resourceset), the first apparatus 110 may select the RS resource associated with the subset of Set A beams. Otherwise, the RS resource may be considered as the full set of Set A beams.

[0064] As another example, the at least one pre-defined rule or condition may indicate the first apparatus 110 to select the one or more reference signals based on one or more reporting instances for a CSI reporting. At least one reference signal from non-zero power (NZP) CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance. For example, in some embodiments, the subset of Set A beams may be determined based on the reporting instance wherein each RS from NZP-CSI-RS resources (CSI-RS reporting) is reported at least once over set of reporting instances. E.g. on each reporting instance, the first apparatus 110 may report N measured RS, where in each reporting instance N RS are reported (until all are reported).

[0065] It is also possible that the at least one pre-defined rule or condition may indicate the first apparatus 110 to select the one or more reference signals based on a predetermined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

[0066] For example, for UE-sided model, as an option, the reported subset of set A beams may be determined based on the predicted (and / or reported) Top-K CSI-RS (CRI) or Top-K CSI-RS ID. As another option, the reported subset of set A may be determined based on the predicted (and / or reported) Top-N out of Top-K CSI-RS (CRI) or Top-N out of Top-K CSI-RS ID.

[0067] For example, the first apparatus 110 may determine a set of reference signal resources from NZP CSI-RS resources to be input to a machine-learning model at the first apparatus for the performance monitoring and determine whether the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states is associated with the set of reference signal resources. If the first apparatus 110 determines that the at least one QCL source reference signal is associated with the set of reference signal resources, the first apparatus 110 may determine the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states.

[0068] In some embodiments, in addition to the indication indicating whether a specific beam set (e.g., a full set of Set A beams) or a subset of the specific beam set (e.g., the subset of Set A beams) is to be used for a performance monitoring, the second apparatus 120 may also transmit (214), additional information of reporting timelines and quantities for monitoring RS resource set to the first apparatus 110. For example, the information of reporting timelines may indicate the reporting timeline can be semipersistent or aperiodic.

[0069] The information of quantities for monitoring RS resource set may depend on different performance monitoring type. For performance monitoring Type 1, This information may includes the quantities for monitoring RS resource set associated to CSI-report based on CRI. The quantity of subset of Set A beams when Set A beams is 64 beams can be listed as below. It is to be understood that the beam indices can be changed 5 depending on network configuration.

[0070] Table 3 Set A dimension Subset of Set A dimension CSI-RS Resource Set for monitoring resource set Beams indices (subset of SetA) for monitoring resource set 64 4 CSI-RS #0, CSI-RS#], CSI-RS #2, CSI-RS #3 2, 8, 12, 16 64 8 CSI-RS #0, CSI-RS#1, CSI-RS #2, CSI-RS #3, CSI-RS #4, CSI-RS #5, CSI-RS #6, CSI-RS #7 0, 3, 8, 14, 18,22,28, 36 64 16 CSI-RS #0, CSI-RS#!, CSI-RS #2, CSI-RS #3, CSI-RS #4, CSI-RS #5, CSI-RS #6, CSI-RS #7, CSI-RS #8, CSI-RS #9, CSI-RS #10, CSI-RS #11, Col-Ko tt I 2. Col-Ko SI A CSI-RS #14, CSI-RS #15 1,4, 9, 14, 18,22,26,30, 34,38,42,46, 50,54,58, 63 64 32 CSI-RS #0, CSI-RS#1, CSI-RS #2, CSI-RS #3, CSI-RS #4, CSI-RS #5, CSI-RS #6, CSI-RS #7, PCT DC 44 Q r CI DC 44 Ct Col-Ko ffo, Col-Ko nJ. CSI-RS #10, CSI-RS #11, CSI-RS #12, CSI-RS #13, CSI-RS #14, CSI-RS #15, CSI-RS #16, CSI-RS #17, CSI-RS #18, CSI-RS #19, CSI-RS #20, CSI-RS #21, CSI-RS #22, CSI-RS #23, CSI-RS #24, CSI-RS #25, CSI-RS #26, CSI-RS #27, CSI-RS #28, CSI-RS #29, 0,2,4, 6, 8,10,12,14, 16, 18,20,22,24,26,28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46,48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 CSI-RS #30, CSI-RS #31

[0071] For performance monitoring Type 2, this information may include a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) for the monitoring RS resource set.

[0072] It is to be understood that, in some scenarios, the additional information of reporting timelines and quantities for monitoring RS resource set may also be transmitted to the first apparatus 110 along with the indication indicating whether a specific beam set (e.g., a full set of Set A beams) or a subset of the specific beam set (e.g., the subset of Set A beams) is to be used for a performance monitoring.

[0073] Therefore, the first apparatus 110 may also determine (218) the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored by considering the additional information.

[0074] Then the first apparatus 110 may receive (220) the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus 120 and perform (222) the measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

[0075] As described, the performance monitoring may refer to performance monitoring Type 1 and performance monitoring Type 2.

[0076] For the where the NW-sided performance monitoring Type 1 is applicable, the first apparatus 110 measures the corresponding RS resources of the subset of Set A beams and reports (224) a result of measurements to the second apparatus 120. The second apparatus 120 determines (226) the performance metrics based on the reported measurements.

[0077] For the where the NW-sided performance monitoring Type 2 is applicable, the first apparatus 110 measures the corresponding RS resources of the sub-set of Set A and derives a performance metric or monitoring outcome (based on the model inference and measured RS resources of sub-set of Set A). Then the first apparatus 110 reports (224) the monitoring metrics or monitoring outcome to the second apparatus 120. Then the second apparatus 120 determines (226) the performance of the functionality or model used at the first apparatus 110.

[0078] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows a signaling chart 300 for communication according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the signaling chart 300 involves the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120. For the purpose of discussion, reference is made to FIG. 1 to describe the signaling chart 300.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 3, the second apparatus 120 may configure (304) the first apparatus 110 to perform beam prediction. For example, the second apparatus 120 may transmit (302) CSI-RS or SSB resources to the first apparatus 110. The first apparatus 110 then may perform (306) a beam prediction and report (308) predicted Top-K beam ID(s) or Top-K predicted RSRP through CSI report to the second apparatus 120. Then the second apparatus 120 may transmit (310) active TCI states for DL / UL channels to the first apparatus 110.

[0080] the second apparatus 120 may transmit (312), to the first apparatus 110, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring. The specific beam set used herein may be referred to as the Set A beams.

[0081] For example, this indication may be transmitted from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 via physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) / physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) based RRC message. As another example, this indication may be transmitted from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 via PDCCH / PDSCH based medium access control-control element (MAC CE) / downlink control information (DCI).

[0082] For the case of where the indication indicating a full set of Set A beams is to be used for a performance monitoring, the second apparatus 120 may use a configured Set A beams through radio resource control, RRC, message and the monitoring RS resources of Set A may cover both inactivate TCI states and active TCI states.

[0083] In this case, the first apparatus 110 may implicitly update the reporting configuration accordingly by including the report corresponding to the new added TCI state and removing report corresponding to the old TCI from the configuration.

[0084] In some embodiments, the subset of Set A beams may be determined based on the reporting instance wherein each RS from NZP-CSI-RS resources (CSI-RS reporting) is reported at least once over set of reporting instances. E.g. on each reporting instance, the UE may report N measured RS, where in each reporting instance N RS are reported (until all are reported).

[0085] For the case of where the indication indicating a subset of Set A beams is to be used for a performance monitoring, the first apparatus 110 determines (316) the subset of Set A beams is to be used for the performance monitoring.

[0086] In this case, the second apparatus 120 may transmit (318), to the first apparatus 110, a further indication of indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set (e.g., a subset of Set A). Then the first apparatus 110 may determine (320) one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of Set A beams exact to be monitored based on the further indication.

[0087] With the further indication, the second apparatus 120 may dynamically / semi-statically indicate the set of RS from NZP-CSI-RS resources or the SSB-RS from Set A beams to be reported. Here, in one example for the further indication, the set A beams may be RRC configured and dynamic selection of subset of set A is configured using downlink control message (e.g. MAC CE / DCI).

[0088] For example, the further indication may indicate the first apparatus 110 to select the one or more reference signals based on at least one quasi-co-located (QCL) source reference signal included in one or more activated or indicated transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states from a measurement reference signal resource set.

[0089] As another example, the at least one pre-defined rule or condition may indicate the first apparatus 110 to select the one or more reference signals based on one or more reporting instances for a CSI reporting. At least one reference signal from non-zero power (NZP) CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance. For example, in some embodiments, the subset of Set A beams may be determined based on the reporting instance wherein each RS from NZP-CSI-RS resources (CSI-RS reporting) is reported at least once over set of reporting instances. E.g. on each reporting instance, the the first apparatus 110 may report N measured RS, where in each reporting instance N RS are reported (until all are reported).

[0090] It is also possible that the at least one pre-defined rule or condition may indicate the first apparatus 110 to select the one or more reference signals based on a pre determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

[0091] For example, for UE-sided model, as an option, the reported subset of set A beams may be determined based on the predicted (and / or reported) Top-K CSI-RS (CRI) or Top-K CSI-RS ID. As another option, the reported subset of set A may be determined based on the predicted (and / or reported) Top-N out of Top-K CSI-RS (CRI) or Top-N out of Top-K CSI-RS ID.

[0092] For example, the first apparatus 110 may determine a set of reference signal resources from NZP CSI-RS resources to be input to a machine-learning model at the first apparatus for the performance monitoring and determine whether the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states is associated with the set of reference signal resources. If the first apparatus 110 determines that the at least one QCL source reference signal is associated with the set of reference signal resources, the first apparatus 110 may determine the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states.

[0093] In some embodiments, in addition to the indication indicating whether a specific beam set (e.g., a full set of Set A beams) or a subset of the specific beam set (e.g., the subset of Set A beams) is to be used for a performance monitoring, the second apparatus 120 may also transmit (314), additional information of reporting timelines and quantities for monitoring RS resource set to the first apparatus 110. For example, the information of reporting timelines may indicate the reporting timeline can be semipersistent or aperiodic or periodic with long time interval.

[0094] The information of quantities for monitoring RS resource set may depend on different performance monitoring type. For performance monitoring Type 1, This information may includes the quantities for monitoring RS resource set associated to CSI-report based on CRI. The quantity of subset of Set A beams when Set A beams is 64 beams can be listed as Table above.

[0095] For performance monitoring Type 2, this information may include a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) or event-based performance monitoring for the monitoring RS resource set. For example, events could identify instances where the predicted received signal strength deviates significantly, or similar criteria could be adopted for beam failure reporting.

[0096] It is to be understood that, in some scenarios, the additional information of reporting timelines and quantities for monitoring RS resource set may also be transmitted to the first apparatus 110 along with the indication indicating whether a specific beam set (e.g., a full set of Set A beams) or a subset of the specific beam set (e.g., the subset of Set A beams) is to be used for a performance monitoring.

[0097] Therefore, the first apparatus 110 may also determine (320) the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored by considering the additional information.

[0098] Then the first apparatus 110 may receive (322) the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus 120 and perform (324) the measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

[0099] As described, the performance monitoring may refer to performance monitoring Type 1 and performance monitoring Type 2.

[0100] For the where the NW-sided performance monitoring Type 1 is applicable, the first apparatus 110 measures the corresponding RS resources of the subset of Set A beams and reports (326) a result of measurements to the second apparatus 120. The second apparatus 120 determines (328) the performance metrics based on the reported measurements.

[0101] For the where the NW-sided performance monitoring Type 2 is applicable, the first apparatus 110 measures the corresponding RS resources of the sub-set of Set A and derives a performance metric or monitoring outcome (based on the model inference and measured RS resources of sub-set of Set A). Then the first apparatus 110 reports (326) the monitoring metrics or monitoring outcome to the second apparatus 120. Then the second apparatus 120 determines (328) the performance of the functionality or model used at the first apparatus 110.

[0102] In some other embodiments, when the activated TCI states are updated, the first apparatus 110 may be expected to consider only the latest monitoring RS resources, wherein the latest monitoring RS resources are also determined based on source RS included in the latest activated TCI states and discard any monitoring metric calculations or monitoring outcomes (e.g., event-based monitoring) which are ongoing based on earlier monitoring RS resources. That is, if the first apparatus 110 determines that one or more activated TCI states are updated, the first apparatus 110 may use one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

[0103] In some other embodiments, when the activated TCI states are updated, the first apparatus 110 may be expected to consider both the older monitoring RS resources (determined based on older TCI states) and latest monitoring RS resources (determined based on updated TCI states) and consider for any monitoring metric calculations or monitoring outcomes (e.g., event-based monitoring). That is, if the first apparatus 110 determines that one or more activated TCI states are updated, the first apparatus 110 may use one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources and one or more history monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

[0104] Up to 64 TCI states can be configured by RRC signaling, however, there may be up to 8 TCI states (depends on UE capability reporting) in subset of Set A beams.

[0105] As described above, for NW-sided performance monitoring for a NW-sided model or a UE-sided model, the UE may receive a first configuration / trigger / indication from the NW to determine a measurement report is associated with a subset of Set A beams or full Set A beams, wherein the Set A beams may be a set of RS resources used by the NW or UE when predicting beams.

[0106] For a NW-sided model, the UE may not be aware of the Set A beams. The Set A beams referred above may refer to a measurement RS resource set and subset of the Set A beams may refer to a subset of the measurement RS resource set.

[0107] The NW could send the first configuration / trigger / indi cation to determine subset of Set A beams based using a predefined rule.

[0108] For NW-sided performance monitoring for a NW-sided model or a UE-sided model, the UE may receive a second indication (or as extended first indication) from the NW or use a predefined rule to determine a subset of the Set A beams within the Set A beams as monitoring RS resource.

[0109] For the case of UE receiving the second indication, the subset of Set A beams may be selected by NW configured UE to report through MAC-CE / DCI.

[0110] For the case of UE using the rule, the rule may be defined to select a QCL source RS included in the activated TCI states from a measurement RS resource set when determining the subset of Set A beams.

[0111] For the case of UE using the rule, the rule may be defined to select a QCL source RS included in the indicates TCI state(s) from a measurement RS resource set when determining the subset of Set A beams.

[0112] For the case of UE using the rule, in one variant, the subset of Set A beams may be determined based on the reporting instance wherein each RS from NZP-CSI-RS resources (CSI-RS reporting) is reported at least once over set of reporting instances. E.g. on each reporting instance the UE may report N measured RS, where in each reporting instance N RS are reported (until all are reported).

[0113] For the case of UE using the rule, in one variant for UE-sided model, in one option, the reported subset of set A beams may be determined based on the predicted (and / or reported) Top-K CSI-RS (CRI) or Top-K CSI-RS ID.

[0114] For the case of UE using the rule, in one variant for UE-sided model, in one option, the reported subset of set A beams may be determined based on the predicted (and / or reported) Top-N out of Top-K CSI-RS (CRI) or Top-N out of Top-K CSI-RS ID.

[0115] For the NW-sided performance monitoring Type 1, wherein the NW configured the UE to get the measurement results to enable to derive the monitoring outcome at the NW-side, the UE may determine the sub-set of Set A beams (i.e. based on NW configuration or predefined rules), the UE may measure the corresponding RS resources of the subset of Set A beams and report the measurements to the NW.

[0116] For the NW-sided performance monitoring Type 2, wherein the NW configures the UE to report monitoring metrics, after UE determines the sub-set of Set A beams, the UE may measure the determined RS resources of the sub-set of Set A beams, determine the monitoring metrics or monitoring outcome for the model inference based on measured sub-set of Set A beams, and report the monitoring metrics or monitoring outcome (e.g. the prediction accuracy based on the monitoring is above configured limit / threshold or below the limit) to the NW.

[0117] As used herein, the RS included in the TCI states may refer to qcl-typeD RS, if more than one RS is included.

[0118] Based on this solution, the signaling overhead, the transmission payload and the workload for the performance monitoring at both UE and NW side may be reduced.

[0119] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an example method 400 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 400 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0120] At block 410, the first apparatus 110 receives, from a second apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring.

[0121] At block 420, in accordance with a determination, based on the indication, that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, at block 430, the first apparatus 110 determines one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored.

[0122] At block 440, the first apparatus 110 receives the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus.

[0123] At block 440, the first apparatus 110 performs a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

[0124] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: receiving the indication from the second apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

[0125] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, information of reporting timelines associated with the performance monitoring and / or quantities for monitoring reference signal resource set associated to a channel state information (CSI) report based on CSI resource indicator, CRI for a first type of performance monitoring or a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators, KPIs, for the monitoring reference signal resource set for a second type of performance monitoring; and determining the subset of the specific beam set based on the information.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the information is received along with the indication.

[0127] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: determining at least one pre-determined condition associated with a selection of the one or more reference signals to be monitored; selecting, based on the at least one pre-determined condition, the one or more reference signals based on at least one of: at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set; at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set; one or more reporting instances for a CSI reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, or a pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, a further indication indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set; and determining the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the further indication.

[0129] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: receiving the further indication from the second apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the further indication indicates the first apparatus to select the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on at least one of: at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set; at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set; one or more reporting instances for a channel state information-reference signal, CSI-RS, reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, or a pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: determining a set of reference signal resources from NZP CSI-RS resources to be input to a machinelearning model at the first apparatus for the performance monitoring; determining whether the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states is associated with the set of reference signal resources; and in accordance with a determination that the at least one QCL source reference signal is associated with the set of reference signal resources, determining the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: transmitting a result of the measurement on the one or more reference signals to the second apparatus based on the reporting timelines.

[0133] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: deriving at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome for based on the measurement on the one or more reference signals; and transmitting the at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome to the second apparatus based on the reporting timelines.

[0134] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: in accordance with a determination that one or more activated TCI states are updated, use one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

[0135] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: in accordance with a determination that one or more activated TCI states are updated, use one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources and one or more history monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

[0136] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises a network device.

[0137] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an example method 500 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 500 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0138] At block 510, the second apparatus 120 transmits, to the first apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring;

[0139] At block 520, the second apparatus 120 transmits, to the first apparatus, one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: transmitting the indication to the first apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

[0141] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, information of reporting timelines associated with the performance monitoring and / or quantities for monitoring reference signal resource set associated to a channel state information (CSI) report based on CSI resource indicator, CRI for a first type of performance monitoring or a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), or event based performance monitoring for the monitoring reference signal resource set for a second type of performance monitoring. For example, for example, events could identify instances where the predicted received signal strength deviates significantly, or similar criteria could be adopted for beam failure reporting.

[0142] In some example embodiments, the information is transmitted to the first apparatus along with the indication.

[0143] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, a further indication indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

[0144] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: transmitting the further indication to the first apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the further indication indicates the first apparatus to select the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on at least one of: at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set; at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set; one or more reporting instances for a channel state information-reference signal, CSI-RS, reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, or a pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

[0146] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: receiving, from the first apparatus, a result of the measurement on the one or more reference signals to the second apparatus.

[0147] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: receiving, from the first apparatus, at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome derived by the first apparatus based on a measurement on the one or more reference signals.

[0148] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, an indication of an update of one or more activated TCI states for the first apparatus or an update of one or more reference signals to be monitored for the performance monitoring.

[0149] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises a network device.

[0150] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 400 (for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 400. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0151] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring; means for in accordance with a determination, based on the indication, that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, determine one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored; means for receiving the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus; and means for performing a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

[0152] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving the indication from the second apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

[0153] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, information of reporting timelines associated with the performance monitoring and / or quantities for monitoring reference signal resource set associated to a channel state information (CSI) report based on CSI resource indicator, CRI for a first type of performance monitoring or a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators, KPIs, for the monitoring reference signal resource set for a second type of performance monitoring; and means for determining the subset of the specific beam set based on the information.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the information is received along with the indication.

[0155] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining at least one pre-determined condition associated with a selection of the one or more reference signals to be monitored; means for selecting, based on the at least one pre-determined condition, the one or more reference signals based on at least one of: means for at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set; at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set; one or more reporting instances for a CSI reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, or a pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

[0156] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a further indication indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set; and means for determining the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the further indication.

[0157] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving the further indication from the second apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

[0158] In some example embodiments, the further indication indicates the first apparatus to select the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on at least one of: means for at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set; at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set; one or more reporting instances for a channel state information-reference signal, CSI-RS, reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, or a pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

[0159] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining a set of reference signal resources from NZP CSI-RS resources to be input to a machine-learning model at the first apparatus for the performance monitoring; means for determining whether the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states is associated with the set of reference signal resources; and means for in accordance with a determination that the at least one QCL source reference signal is associated with the set of reference signal resources, determining the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting a result of the measurement on the one or more reference signals to the second apparatus based on the reporting timelines.

[0161] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for deriving at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome for based on the measurement on the one or more reference signals; and means for transmitting the at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome to the second apparatus based on the reporting timelines.

[0162] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for in accordance with a determination that one or more activated TCI states are updated, using one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

[0163] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for in accordance with a determination that one or more activated TCI states are updated, using one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources and one or more history monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

[0164] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises a network device.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 400 or the first apparatus 110. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the first apparatus.

[0166] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 500 (for example, the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 500. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring; means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

[0168] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting the indication to the first apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

[0169] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, information of reporting timelines associated with the performance monitoring and / or quantities for monitoring reference signal resource set associated to a channel state information (CSI) report based on CSI resource indicator, CRI for a first type of performance monitoring or a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators, KPIs, for the monitoring reference signal resource set for a second type of performance monitoring.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the information is transmitted to the first apparatus along with the indication.

[0171] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a further indication indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

[0172] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting the further indication to the first apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

[0173] In some example embodiments, the further indication indicates the first apparatus to select the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on at least one of: means for at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set; at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set; one or more reporting instances for a channel state information-reference signal, CSI-RS, reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, or a pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

[0174] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, a result of the measurement on the one or more reference signals to the second apparatus.

[0175] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome derived by the first apparatus based on a measurement on the one or more reference signals.

[0176] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, an indication of an update of one or more activated TCI states for the first apparatus or an update of one or more reference signals to be monitored for the performance monitoring.

[0177] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises a network device.

[0178] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 500 or the second apparatus 120. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the second apparatus.

[0179] FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a device 600 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 600 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 110 or the second apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 600 includes one or more processors 610, one or more memories 620 coupled to the processor 610, and one or more communication modules 640 coupled to the processor 610.

[0180] The communication module 640 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 640 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 640 may include at least one antenna.

[0181] The processor 610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0182] The memory 620 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 624, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 622 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0183] A computer program 630 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 610. The instructions of the program 630 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 630 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 624. The processor 610 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 630 into the RAM 622.

[0184] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 630 so that the device 600 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0185] In some example embodiments, the program 630 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 600 (such as in the memory 620) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 600. The device 600 may load the program 630 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 622 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0186] FIG. BBBB shows an example of the computer readable medium BBBB00 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium BBBB00 has the program 630 stored thereon.

[0187] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0188] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0189] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0190] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0191] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0192] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0193] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A first apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to:receive, from a second apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring;in accordance with a determination, based on the indication, that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, determine one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored;receive the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus; andperform a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:receive the indication from the second apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:receive, from the second apparatus, information of reporting timelines associated with the performance monitoring and / or quantities for monitoring reference signal resource set associated to a channel state information (CSI) report based on CSI resource indicator, CRI for a first type of performance monitoring or a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators, KPIs, for the monitoring reference signal resource set for a second type of performance monitoring; anddetermine the subset of the specific beam set based on the information.

4. The first apparatus of claim 3, wherein the information is received along with the indication.

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: determine at least one pre-determined condition associated with a selection of the one or more reference signals to be monitored;select, based on the at least one pre-determined condition, the one or more reference signals based on at least one of:at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set;at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set;one or more reporting instances for a CSI reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, ora pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

6. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: receive, from the second apparatus, a further indication indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set; anddetermine the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the further indication.

7. The first apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: receive the further indication from the second apparatus via a radio resource control,RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

8. The first apparatus of claim 6 or 7, wherein the further indication indicates the first apparatus to select the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on at least one of:at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set;at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set;one or more reporting instances for a channel state information-reference signal, CSI-RS, reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, ora pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

9. The first apparatus of claim 5 or 8, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:determine a set of reference signal resources from NZP CSI-RS resources to be input to a machine-learning model at the first apparatus for the performance monitoring;determine whether the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states is associated with the set of reference signal resources; andin accordance with a determination that the at least one QCL source reference signal is associated with the set of reference signal resources, determine the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states.10 The first apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:transmit a result of the measurement on the one or more reference signals to the second apparatus based on the reporting timelines.

11. The first apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:derive at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome for based on the measurement on the one or more reference signals; andtransmit the at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome to the second apparatus based on the reporting timelines.

12. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-11, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:in accordance with a determination that one or more activated TCI states are updated, use one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

13. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-11, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:in accordance with a determination that one or more activated TCI states are updated, use one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources and one or more history monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

14. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-13, wherein the first apparatus comprises a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises a network device.

15. A second apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to:transmit, to the first apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring;transmit, to the first apparatus, one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

16. The second apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second apparatus is caused to:transmit the indication to the first apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

17. The second apparatus of claim 15 or 16, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: transmit, to the first apparatus, information of reporting timelines associated with the performance monitoring and / or quantities for monitoring reference signal resource set associated to a channel state information (CSI) report based on CSI resource indicator, CRI for a first type of performance monitoring or a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators, KPIs, for the monitoring reference signal resource set for a second type of performance monitoring.

18. The second apparatus of claim 17, wherein the information is transmitted to the first apparatus along with the indication.

19. The second apparatus of claim any of claims 15-18, wherein the second apparatus is caused to:transmit, to the first apparatus, a further indication indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

20. The second apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second apparatus is caused to:transmit the further indication to the first apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element,MAC CE.

21. The second apparatus of claim 19 or 20, wherein the further indication indicates the first apparatus to select the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on at least one of:at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set;at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set;one or more reporting instances for a channel state information-reference signal, CSI-RS, reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, ora pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

22. The second apparatus of any of claims 15-21, wherein the second apparatus is caused to:receive, from the first apparatus, a result of the measurement on the one or more reference signals to the second apparatus.

23. The second apparatus of any of claims 15-21, wherein the second apparatus is caused to:receive, from the first apparatus, at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome derived by the first apparatus based on a measurement on the one or more reference signals.

24. The second apparatus of any of claims 15-23, wherein the second apparatus is caused to:transmit, to the first apparatus, an indication of an update of one or more activated TCI states for the first apparatus or an update of one or more reference signals to be monitored for the performance monitoring.

25. The second apparatus of any of claims 15-24, wherein the first apparatus comprises a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises a network device.

26. A method comprising:receiving, at a first apparatus from a second apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring;in accordance with a determination, based on the indication, that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, determining one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored;receiving the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus; andperforming a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:receiving the indication from the second apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:receiving, from the second apparatus, information of reporting timelines associated with the performance monitoring and / or quantities for monitoring reference signal resource set associated to a channel state information, CSI, report based on CSI resource indicator, CRI for a first type of performance monitoring or a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators, KPIs, for the monitoring reference signal resource set for asecond type of performance monitoring; anddetermining the subset of the specific beam set based on the information.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the information is received along with the indication.

30. The method of any of claims 26-29, further comprising:determining at least one pre-determined condition associated with a selection of the one or more reference signals to be monitored;selecting, based on the at least one pre-determined condition, the one or more reference signals based on at least one of:at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set;at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set;one or more reporting instances for a CSI reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, ora pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

31. The method of any of claims 26-29, further comprising:receiving, from the second apparatus, a further indication indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set; anddetermining the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the further indication.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:receiving the further indication from the second apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access controlcontrol element, MAC CE.

33. The method of claim 31 or 32, wherein the further indication indicates the first apparatus to select the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on at least one of:at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set;at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set;one or more reporting instances for a channel state information-reference signal, CSI-RS, reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, ora pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

34. The method of claim 30 or 33, further comprising:determining a set of reference signal resources from NZP CSI-RS resources to be input to a machine-learning model at the first apparatus for the performance monitoring;determining whether the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states is associated with the set of reference signal resources; andin accordance with a determination that the at least one QCL source reference signal is associated with the set of reference signal resources, determining the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set based on the at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated and / or activated TCI states.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising:transmitting a result of the measurement on the one or more reference signals to the second apparatus based on the reporting timelines.

36. The method of claim 28, further comprising:deriving at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome for based on the measurement on the one or more reference signals; andtransmitting the at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome to the second apparatus based on the reporting timelines.

37. The method of any of claims 26-36, further comprising:in accordance with a determination that one or more activated TCI states are updated, using one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

38. The method of any of claims 26-36, further comprising:in accordance with a determination that one or more activated TCI states are updated, using one or more latest monitoring reference signal resources and one or more history monitoring reference signal resources for a further performance monitoring.

39. The method of any of claims 26-38, wherein the first apparatus comprises a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises a network device.

40. A method comprising:transmitting, from a second apparatus to the first apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring;transmitting, to the first apparatus, one or more reference signals corresponding tothe subset of the specific beam set.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:transmitting the indication to the first apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

42. The method of claim 40 or 41, further comprising:transmitting, to the first apparatus, information of reporting timelines associated with the performance monitoring and / or quantities for monitoring reference signal resource set associated to a channel state information, CSI, report based on CSI resource indicator, CRI for a first type of performance monitoring or a configuration for monitoring key performance indicators, KPIs, for the monitoring reference signal resource set for a second type of performance monitoring.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the information is transmitted to the first apparatus along with the indication.

44. The method of claim any of claims 40-43, further comprising:transmitting, to the first apparatus, a further indication indicating the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:transmitting the further indication to the first apparatus via a radio resource control, RRC, signaling, downlink control information, DCI, or medium access control-control element, MAC CE.

46. The method of claim 44 or 45, wherein the further indication indicates the first apparatus to select the one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of thespecific beam set based on at least one of:at least one quasi-co-located, QCL, source reference signal included in one or more activated transmission configuration indicator, TCI, states from a measurement reference signal resource set;at least one QCL source reference signal included in one or more indicated TCI states from the measurement reference signal resource set;one or more reporting instances for a channel state information-reference signal, CSI-RS, reporting, wherein at least one reference signal from non-zero power, NZP, CSI-RS resources, is to be reported for each reporting instance, ora pre-determined number of CSI-RSs selected from a pre-determined number of CSI-RS indicators or CSI-RS indices corresponding to the specific beam set.

47. The method of any of claims 40-46, further comprising:receiving, from the first apparatus, a result of the measurement on the one or more reference signals to the second apparatus.

48. The method of any of claims 40-46, further comprising:receiving, from the first apparatus, at least one monitoring metric and / or monitoring outcome derived by the first apparatus based on a measurement on the one or more reference signals.

49. The method of any of claims 40-48, further comprising:transmitting, to the first apparatus, an indication of an update of one or more activated TCI states for the first apparatus or an update of one or more reference signals to be monitored for the performance monitoring.

50. The method of any of claims 40-49, wherein the first apparatus comprises a terminal device, and the second apparatus comprises a network device.

51. A first apparatus comprising:means for receiving, from a second apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring;means for in accordance with a determination, based on the indication, that the subset of the specific beam set is to be used for the performance monitoring, determining one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set to be monitored;means for receiving the one or more reference signals from the second apparatus; andmeans for performing a measurement on the one or more reference signals for the performance monitoring.

52. A second apparatus comprising:means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, an indication indicating whether a specific beam set or a subset of the specific beam set is to be used for a performance monitoring;means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, one or more reference signals corresponding to the subset of the specific beam set.

53. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of any of claims 26-39 or the method of any of claims 40-50.51

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